Battery charging and forming apparatus



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BATTERY CHARGING FORMING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 13. 1947 l 18 Sheets-Sheet 18 "www l me Patented Oct. 31, 19,50

BATTERY CHARGING AND FOBMING APPARATUS Robert A. Daily, Alva L. Hindall, Donald G. Ma-

honey, and Belford A. Miller, Muncie Ind., and

Raymond H. Bish, Downers Grove, assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application December 13, 1947, Serial No. 791,510 11 Claims. (Cl. 13S- 82) This invention relates to apparatus for forming and charging storage batteries.

An object oi' the invention is to provide apparatus which requires a relatively small amount of iloor space and which will form a relatively large number of batteries in a relatively short time. In the disclosed embodiment thereof, the apparatus comprises a conveyor carrying a plurality of trays, each having a plurality of cells for receiving battery cell groups, each comprising positive and negative plates united by their respective terminal straps and spaced by separators. The conveyor moves the trays successively past a loading station, a station where electrolyte passes into the tray cells, a station where the trays are tilted to discharge the electrolyte and back to the first station where the formed and charged cell-groups are removed and replaced by unformed cell-groups. While the trays pass between the second and third stations, their cellgroups are connected with an electric current. If the forming method requires the use of two electrolyte solutions, the apparatus provides dumping and rell stations between the filling and dumping stations above mentioned.

The apparatus provides for connecting the 'trays successively with different current sources which are so controlled as to provide the required forming and charging current; and provides for the circulation around the trays of a large amount of air so as to conduct'away heat generated by the passage of electric current through the cell-groups.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment oi the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings: i

Figs. l to 7 taken together constitute a side elevation of the charging and forming conveyor, the parts in section being those below the normal floor or ground level while the parts above this level are in side elevation.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view online 8--8 of Fig. 7 showing only the conveyor driving mechanism.

Fig. 9 is an enlargement of the fragment enclosed in dot-dash rectangle 9 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on line Ill-I0 of Fig. 4 showing the hood around the conveyor and the direction of flow of air into this hood into a manifold below the floor level and up through a stack through a suction fan.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a floor plate shown in section in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view on line |2-l2 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a transverse sectional view which is taken for example, on line I3-I8 of Fig. 3. Fig. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a fragment of an end of one of the buckets (at the left side, Fig. 13) which is directly connected with a. trolley brush.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary side view showinga fragment of the right end of a bucket directly connected with a trolley brush.

Fig. 16 is a view in the direction of arrow I6 of Fig. 14 on a larger scale showing the left end oi' a. bucket.

Fig. 16A is a view in the direction of arrow IGA 0f Fig. 16.

Fig. 16B is a sectional view on line IBB-IBB of Fig. 16A.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view showing in side elevation a fragment of the left end of the conveyor bucket which is shown in section in the lower left hand partof Fig. 13.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary side view o! a device for causing the tilting of the buckets.

Fig. 19 is a sectional view7 on line I'S-IS of Fig. 18.

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary plan view of two of the buckets and parts of the conveyor supporting the same and is viewed in the direction oi the arrow 20 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 2l is a side view of one of the buckets and a portion of its mounting structure.

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary plan view taken in the direction of arrow 22 of Fig. 21.

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 23-23 of Fig. 22 of one of the buckets together with a portion of its supporting mechanism.

Fig. 24 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 24-24 of Fig. 22.

Fig. 25 is a, plan view of a cell-group retainer which is detachably supported by a bucket compartment.

Fig. 26 is a view in the direction of arrow 26 of Fig. 25.

Fig. 27 is a sectional view on line 21-21 of Fig. 26.

Fig. 28 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing portions of the conveyor on the upper and lower tracks and showing one of the buckets in dumping position.

Fig. 29 is a, fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the conveyor showing the conveyor that passes around a driving sprocket.

Fig. 30 is a transverse sectional view of the conveyor as viewed on line 30-30 of Fig. 32 as showing the apparatus for filling the buckets when on the lower conveyor track.

Fig. 31 is a fragmentary plan view in the direction of arrow 3| of Fig. 30.

Fig. 32 is a view of a portion of the machine shown about the level of arrow 32 of Fig. 30 with side plates removed to show the side elevation oi' the apparatus for filling the buckets when traveling on the lower conveyor track.

Fig. 33 is a view similar to Fig. 32 but shows the apparatus for filling the buckets when traveling on the upper conveyor track.

Fig. 34 is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 33.

.'Fig. 35 is a view similar to Fig. 34, but shows the filling apparatus when the acid bucket is dumped and is discharging its contents through a funnel which discharges into a bucket compartment.

Fig. 36 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 36-36 of Fig. 33.

Fig. 37 is a side view partly in section of an electrical control for the dumping apparatus shown in Fig. 33.

Fig. 38 is a view in the direction of arrow 38 of Fig. 37.

Fig. 39 is a wiring diagram of a portion of the electrical circuit, this figure showing the current sources for two of the positive bus bars and controls associated therewith.

Fig. 40 is a wiring diagram showing the operation of the device.

The apparatus provides a housing which is shown in Fig. 13 which consists of a plurality of metal posts 50 which rests upon a suitable foundation, the upper level of which is designated by the line A-B (see also Figs. 1 7) known as the normal floor line, the posts 50 supporting horizontal angles 52 and 53 which stiffen the structure longitudinally. Certain posts 50 are connected by cross members 54 which stiffen the structure transversely. The posts 50 support those angles 55 which support a top hood ccmprising hinged-members 56 joined by hinge 51. The sides of the structure are enclosed by side plates 58 which may be removed when required, but this is generally not necessary. The sides are enclosed by removable plates 59 which, as shown in Fig. 9, are provided with key hole slots 60, the bottom portion each of which is adapted to receive the head of a pin 6| attached to angle 5| and the upper portion of each slot being received by a groove in the pin 6|. The hood members 56 and the plates 59 are secured in position by plates 62 which, as shown in Fig. 9, overlap corners of adjacent hood members 56 and corners of adjacent plates 59. Similar plates 63 overlap corners of adjacent plates 59 at the lower edge. The plates 62 and 63 are fastened by screws to the posts 50. The top edges of the plates 59 are above the bottom edges of the hood members 56 and the bottom edges of the plates 59 are above the top edges of the plate 58 to provide for the entrance of air indicated by arrows 64 and 65 in Figs. 13 and 9.

The angles 52 provide the upper conveyor track and the angles 53 the lower conveyor track. The conveyor comprises links (see also Fig. 28) and 13 pivotally connected by rods 1| upon which supporting wheels 12 are retained by pins 14. As shown in Fig. '1, the wheels 12 are engaged by a driving sprocket mounted on a shaft 16 which carries a gear'11 meshing with a gear 18 which is driven by a shaft 19 connected by a sprocket 80, a chain 8| and a sprocket B2 with a speed reducer 83 driven by an electric motor 34. In the embodiment shown, the conveyor chain hasl 287 one-foot linksnon each side. The time required for formation and charging is about five hours, for example; and additional time is required for loading and unloading, filling and dumping the electrolyte and washing the formed plates. Therefore, each conveyor link makes the circuit once in slightly more than seven hours.

The driven or idle sprocket 86 is shown in Fig. 1. It is mounted on a shaft 81 supported by longitudinal shiftable bearings 88 each attached to a rod 09 passing through a support 90 and surrounded by a spring 9| which pushes against a nut 92 threadedly connected with the rod 89. The springs 9|, therefore, urge the sprocket 86 toward the left to take up the slack in the chains.

Referring to Figs. 13, 22 and 23, each conveyor link supports a bracket |00, the horizontal flange of which supports a hard rubber block |0| se cured to the bracket |00 by screws |02 passing through a cross bar |03 through the block |0| and receiving nuts |04. y

Referring to Fig. 23, the block supports a tubular boss |05 integral with a bracket |06. Between each pair of brackets |06 as shown in Fig. 13, there is a tray ||0 made of molded insulating material such as hard rubber or other material which is strong and acid resisting.

Referring to Fig. 22, each bracket |06 is attached to a tray ||0 by screws |01 which pass through the flanges |08 of bracket |06 and are threadedly received by holes tapped in the tray. The screws |01 also pass through non-conduct ing acid resisting baiiie plates |09 made for example of vinylite. Any acid spray arising from the trays is prevented from coming in contact with the electrical connections which are supported by the brackets |06.

Each tray ||0 is divided by partitions into cells ||2 each adapted to receive a battery cellgroup comprising positive and negative plate separators and positive and negative terminal posts. Each battery cell-group is supported above the bottom of the tray cell upon bosses I3, Fig. 24, provided by the tray ||0 and upon the foot ||4 of a removable partition H5 (Figs. 25, 26, 21) which is retained in a vertical position between bosses ||6 and ||1 provided on the interior on each tray cell. The battery cellgroup being spaced above the bottom of the tray cell, the sludge which may collect in the formation is deposited at the bottoms of the tray cells while the electrolyte above the bosses ||3 and the feet iii remains clear. When the trays are turned for dumping out the electrolyte, as shown at ||0d, (Figs. 28 and 32), the battery cell-groups merely gravitate against the upright portion of the partition I l5 (Fig. 24) so that the electrical connections with the battery cell-groups are not disturbed.

The dumping of the trays is effected by providing each tray supporting bracket |06 with a boss |20 (Figs. 13, 28, 32) which is located in the vertical plane of a roller |2| pivotally supported by bracket |22. As the lower part of the conveyor moves toward the right in Fig. 28, the bosses |20 of the two brackets |06 supporting the trays are engaged by the two rollers |2| which cause the tray to move into the position shown in IIOd, Fig. 28, thereby allowing the electrolyte in the tray cells to gravitate into a suitable receptacle to be described later. The rollers |2| which are supported by the fixed bracket |22 are so located 

